United come into this game after a 4-o loss to Lincoln FC in the league. We also come into the game with a large number of players suspended or injured. Regulars Chino, Jared and Perez are all serving a ban for accumulation of yellows while the injury list now stretches to more than 10 players. Manolo however welcomes captain Andrew Lopez who plays on the left wing today. Young Ayden Viñales makes his full debut against his former team deputising for Chino in goal. Rock Cup action means a release from the pressures of the league and an opportunity to move into the Semi Finals of the competition. This is our last game for a fortnight due to the Internationals so a good performance is a must.

United started the game brightly with controlled possessions and looking sharp and hungry. Montovio in particular looked much more sprightly that he had been in recent games and Pitu in midfield was also sporting a hungrier look to his game. Both teams effectively cancelled each other out in the opening 20 or so minutes. Brad was effectively marshalling our defence and the Lions forwards and so too was Tunisian Aymen Mouheli for the Oranges. Indeed his clashes with Montovio would be a facet of the match.

United had the first clear cut chance of the match. A penalty shout had been turned down a few minutes before when Mouheli clearly shoved Robert to the ground inside the box. Me Borg waved United’s appeal away but Andrew was to have a clear cut chance to give us the lead. Following on from a bad clearance by Jayce Olivero, he scuffed a snap shot wide of former United keeper Liam Neale’s goal. At the other end of the pitch debutant Viñales was having a fairly decent game dealing well with what little danger Lions were bringing to the goal.

The second half started pretty much in the same vein with both teams playing well but with no clear chances at goal. Neale was equal to a very well taken Pitu free kick while Ayden was also the equal of several long range Lions shots. Though the game was there for the taking neither team seemed to show the conviction to go ahead and take it.

The deadlock was broken early in the half when Carl Thomas and Moheli came together inside the United box. The Tunisian fell to the ground and to Thomas’ disdain and disbelief the referee pointed to the spot. Though far from perfectly executed, striker Garcia Martin slotted the ball past the flying Viñales. Lions taking a narrow lead as United now sought to find an equaliser.

In our next attack Robert was put through and cynically felled inside the D by the central defender as Neale came out to narrow any possible angle for a shot. To everyone’s surprise neither ref nor linesman flagged for a foul that was clear as day. The Lions defence cleared the shot and play continued. Unperturbed by the events Robert continued to harass and probe but with no luck. He was joined by Brad up front for the final minutes in one last gung-ho attempt to rescue the tie but the scoreline would not move. A much improved performance on last week’s showing against Lincoln and certainly the team gave a better account of themselves.

Football action now takes a hiatus for a fortnight as Gibraltar play two home friendlies versus Lichtenstein and Lativa. We wish out four internationals the best of luck and funnily enough we return to action versus Lions in the league on April 4th.

Carl Ellul on for Robert Montovio
Jamie Currer on for Dexter Panzavechia
Carl Thomas on for Sean Gilbert

Gib Utd face perennial champions Lincoln for the third time this season on the backs of two heavy defeats earlier on in the season. Manolo Nuñez is facing a plethora of injuries for selection. Robba, Lopez, Catania, and Marquez join long term absentees Bosio, Parker and Espinosa on the sick bed. Carl Thomas was dropped to the bench by technical decision which meant that Sean Gilbert comes back into the side as well as David Gallardo who moves into center half while Kaylan Rumbo occupies Robba’s position in center mid. The high spate of injuries means spots on the bench for two reservists Thomas Laguea and James Ellul. After losing 3-1 against Europa last time out United hope to give Lincoln a hard game. All 4 recent call ups to the international squad make the line up with Brad taking the armband for the game.

A first half to forget for United that were totally outclassed by Champions Lincoln FC> It only took 20 minutes for the Red Imps to break the Red and White defensive wall with Kyle Casciaro getting the first goal. Fellow GFA internationals George Cabrera and Liam Wlaker, the latter via a wicked deflection, also beat recent callup Chino. Livramiento got the 4th to leave United despondant at half time.

Manolo made three subs at half time after a toothless first 45 minutes and the introduction of Carl Thomas injected much needed energy. The worst news was he injury to Evan Green that saw him limp off and leave United with 10. We wish Evan a speedy recovery. The performance was much better and the scoreline was not to change any more. Attention now shifts to the Rock Cup next weekend versus Lions FC

Jamie Currer on for Ashley Perez
Andrew Lopez on for Duane Robba
Sean Gilbert on for Evan Green

Following to 2-0 defeats versus Europa FC United play the 2nd placed side for the last time last season. Both sides come into the game on the backs of 2-0 victories last time out. The three players who renewed their contracts all keep their starting berths while Steffan Cardona comes in to shore up the defensive line. Andrew Lopez drops to the bench while Jamie Currer is back in contention on the bench after getting over a hamstring injury. Kaylan continues as a centre half after some impressive performances there off late. United line up in a 5-4-1 formation seeking to contain Europa while looking for fast counter attacks.

Gib United started very brightly indeed. A solid line of 5 defenders was dealing very well with the Europa FC threat that largely centred around their number 17 who was finding plenty of space between the lines in midfield. Yet the line was holding strong. We were having lengthy possessions and though little damage was being created, we were holding our own against a side that had just put Lincoln FC to the sword.

Evan Green had other ideas. Pouncing on some clumsy defending the pacy wide man employed his speed to take him past a dithering Europa defender and leave him in his tracks. He bore down on the advancing keeper and it seemed the goalie would fell Evan and risk a penalty kick and a red card. Evan’s next piece of skill saved the Spanish keeper any embarrassment. He rounded the aforementioned Spaniard and left him for dead. From the stands it seemed he had left himself with a very acute angle but he was able to slot the ball home to give United a most unexpected of leads. Evan and his team mates went wild with delirium. Europa players and fans looked shocked; not so one of the twins they have as managers.

He immediately sent two subs out to carry out an intense warm up, among them towering striker Pedro Carrion, the bane of our defence twice already this season. Indeed he was on the pitch several minutes later and his presence would change the game indefinitely. An expert header of the ball he immediately began to prowl the area between our center halves. He won the first cross floated over and scored with the second one thundered a headed past Chino to even the score. From the point on the Gib Utd goal had to weather a green and black storm that battered goalkeeper and defender. They stood firm against the onslaught until 2 minutes into added time when Carrion once again headed past Chino to put Europa FC 2-1 up at half time.

The second half was one of total Europa domination. Depsite Manolo freshening up the ranks Europa added a 3rd goal deep in the second half. United however had a golden chance to reduce the deficit when Robert Montovio lobbed a delightful chip onto the crossbar. Overall a well deserved win for the Green and Blacks but United players can hold their heads up high as they gave Europa a hell of a game; the way players and staff celebrated their goals is testament to the fact that despite them lionising possession they had to fight hard to get this win. It doesn’t get any easier in the Premier though as its Lincoln Red Imps up next.